Top Eight Teams, last SF appearance (and ultimate result)
Australia: 2007 (Champions)
England: 1992 (Runners Up)
India: 2011 (Champions)
New Zealand: 2011 (Semi Finalists)
Pakistan: 2011(Semi Finalists)
South Africa: 2007 (Semi Finalists)
Sri Lanka: 2011 (Runners Up)
West Indies: 1996 (Semi Finalist).
Each of the other big nations has at least one Semi Final appearance since 1992. Not England.
Well, we’ve just lost to Pakistan in our latest warm up game - they may well have problems but they’re a better ODI side than us, I think. We never seem to score enough runs to support our bowlers when faced with decent opposition - a problem I don’t tend to see in other nations. I can’t see us beating Aus or NZ in the group. The game against SL is going to be a big one - I don’t fancy us in that but it should be closer than the other two games. I see us in 4th and playing SA, where the South Africans might well choke, I suppose, given historic performances in previous world cups but this seems too much to hope for I think…
Warm up games mean nothing. Its 15 a side, with 11 ball and 11 bat. You can simply send established batsman all down the order if you want.
It’s the same for both sides and England still lost. I’d rather be winning than losing, even in the warm up games.
Starting in 8 hours.
The Kiwis are fielding their best team in a generation. Mike Hesson has clicked as a coach in a way that Wright never did, but more importantly I think that playing in the IPL has tempered the players in a cut-throat professional environment, in a way that having a few players piddling around in English county cricket in the off-season couldn’t. They’ve learnt that you can make money if you’re good, but you won’t be carried if you’re mediocre.
I think that the success of other sporting codes over the past couple of years also put a scare into NZ Cricket: for too long they assumed that public would be happy to support the game no matter the result, but the League and especially the basketball has taught them that people expect results, or at least commitment and effort, and and will switch support to codes that provide it, that cricket isn’t guaranteed a public any more.
The current Black Caps have genuine depth throughout, not just a couple of world class players and bunch of makeweights, but they also have a tenacity that makes them want to win and not just be happy to show up. That said, they’ll probably be all out for 47 against Sri Lanka today.
Well at 182 for 2 after 32 overs New Zealand look more likely to make 347.
331 for 6. All uphill for Sri Lanka.
Vettori dismisses Dilshan.
Off topic, how many survivors from 1999 are playing. Vettori. Afridi. Jayawardane. Anybody else?
The Kiwis pound SL.
Australia score 342. Aaron Finch scores a century after being dropped on a duck by Finn, who recovered to take the most useless hatrick in history.
England getting more than a pounding .
I think that qualifies as a knotted handkerchief trick.
England go down swinging - 111 run victory to Australia. England showed fight even after a small bloodbath and should not be discouraged. They will need to change their bowling strategy if they face Australia again though.
So it’s started - and, utterly predictably, England’s bowlers look dangerous early on, but the opposition gets to 160 off 30 and ends up 340 as the death bowling goes round the ground. Equally predictable is the string of low scores from England batsmen trying to keep up with the asking rate. And Morgan got 0 for about the 4th time in 6 innings. Nothing to see here, move along.
Under the radar, NZ clobbered Sri Lanka by about the same margin and in very much the same fashion. My predictions are looking good. Statistically oddity - Jeevan Mendis is brought on to break a partnership, gets both batsmen out and then never reappears after the Powwerplay, finishing with 2-5 off 2 in an innings of 331/6.
Where on earth do you get that from? This has to be a wind up- the Windies were the best in the world when they won the first two Championships - and arguably the best when India scored a shock upset in the third.
AFAIK, the umpires were English. And Pakistan were never in contention. Imran Khan was not captain anyway.
In 1983 the Windies belted Pakistan by 8 wickets in the semi final. Must have been generous help from the umpires.
In 1987 Windies and Pakistan won a game each and when the Windies won the umpires were Indian.
I can’t even begin to understand your argument.
Anyway, it was good to see the English get beaten tonight (from my point of view).
The real surprise are New Zealand though. And the way they have come ahead in the last few months. RSA with Steyne and De Villiers will always be difficult to beat.
BTW, why aren’t the minnows competing this year? No Canada or Kenya for instance?
I was talking about the three test series in the 1980’s. Specifically.
Incidentally, I have always thought the 1987 Pakistan side the best we ever sent to a WC. Even better than the 1992 one.
Back to point, you chaps gave an interesting selection quandary with Clarkes return. Get rid of whom? Bailey, Maxwell or Marsh, all three of who played fantastically.
ETA. Canada and Netherlands did not qualify.
I agree- they (Pakistan) were a very good side. Sadly at that stage I believe the Windies were in a decline which they have never arrested (despite Brian Lara). (Sorry if I sounded a bit harsh in my reply- you really had me confused. I respect the Windies for winning everywhere before the days of neutral umpires. They really were a class outfit- and the bowling unit was surely one of the best that has ever been - well apart from a spinner after Lance Gibbs)
Regarding Clarke- my option would to be get rid of Watson. He has been a myth for far too long and is not a number 3 at any level.
No problem, I was not the model of clarity. However, I would say their decline began around 1992 when Richards and Grenidge and later Hayes retired.
Bowler down sans Watson I think that could be dangerous against Lanka or the Kiwis.
As for tommorrow, an India cakewalk.
Watson only bowled three overs today and while I think his bowling is certainly useful, I am not convinced that he can keep his spot for either batting or bowling. Australia seem to have a few bowling options. I think Australia’s next game is against Bangladesh which should not be a problem (that will be the kiss of death).
And I am not so certain of India winning- they have performed miserably here and seem to have been here forever.
BTW- I always thought that Hammer Haynes and Gordon Greenidge were superb players but looking back their stats aren’t all that great. Maybe they were made to look good by the players in the team. I understand averages (Batting) have gone up from 20 years ago due to a variety of factors but I wonder if they would have been as successful if they had faced the likes of Garner, Marshall etc.